to him that hath-第45章

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chosen　by　each　of　the　parties　in　this　dispute；　who　would　in　turn
choose　a　chairman；　that　this　committee　meet　with　representatives　of
both　parties；　and　that　their　decision　in　all　cases　be　final。〃

Mr。　Farrington　rose　and　heartily　seconded　the　motion。

At　this　point　Jack；　who　was　sitting　near　the　platform　and　whose
eyes　were　wandering　over　the　audience；　was　startled　by　the　look　on
the　face　of　McNish。　　It　was　a　look　in　which　mingled　fear；　anxiety；
wrath。　　He　seemed　to　be　on　the　point　of　starting　to　his　feet　when
McGinnis　broke　in：

〃Do　I　understand　that　the　decision　of　this　committee　is　to　be　final
on　every　point？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　the　Reverend　Murdo。　　〃There　is　no　other　way　by
which　we　can　arrive　at　a　decision。〃

〃Do　you　mean；〃　cried　McGinnis；　〃that　if　this　committee　says　I　must
hire　only　union　men　in　my　foundry　that　I　must　do　so？〃

〃I　would　reply；〃　said　the　Reverend　Murdo；　〃that　we　must　trust　this
committee　to　act　in　a　fair　and　reasonable　way。〃

But　Mr。　McGinnis　was　not　satisfied　with　this　answer。

〃I　want　to　know；〃　he　cried　in　growing　anger；　〃I　want　to　know
exactly　where　we　are　and　I　want　a　definite　answer。　　Will　this
committee　have　the　right　to　force　me　to　employ　only　union　men？〃

〃Mr。　Mayor；〃　replied　the　Reverend　Murdo；　〃Mr。　McGinnis　is　right　in
asking　for　definiteness。　　My　answer　is　that　we　must　trust　this
committee　to　do　what　is　wise　and　reasonable；　and　we　must　accept
their　decision　as　final　in　every　case。〃

Thereupon　McGinnis　rose　and　expressed　an　earnest　desire　for　a
tragic　and　unhappy　and　age…long　fate　if　he　would　consent　to　any
such　proposition。　　With　terrible　swiftness　the　spirit　of　the
meeting　was　changed。　　The　moment　of　lofty　emotion　and　noble　impulse
passed。　　The　opportunity　for　reason　and　fair　play　to　determine　the
issue　was　lost；　and　the　old　evil　spirit　of　suspicion　and　hate　fell
upon　the　audience　like　a　pall。

At　this　point　McNish；　from　whose　face　all　anxiety　had　disappeared；
rose　and　said：

〃For　my　part；　and　speaking　for　the　working　men　of　this　town；　I　am
ready　to　accept　the　proposal　that　has　been　made。　　We　have　no　fear
for　the　justice　of　our　demands　like　some　men　here　present。　　We　know
we　have　the　right　on　our　side　and　we　are　willing　to　accept　the
judgment　of　such　a　committee　as　has　been　proposed。〃　　The　words　were
fair　enough；　but　the　tone　of　sneering　contempt　was　so　irritating
that　immediately　the　position　assumed　by　McGinnis　received　support
from　his　fellow　employers　on　every　hand。　　Once　more　uproar　ensued。
The　mayor；　in　a　state　of　angry　excitement；　sought　in　vain　to
restore　order。

After　some　minutes　of　heated　altercation　with　Mr。　McGinnis；　whom　he
threatened　with　expulsion　from　the　meeting；　the　mayor　finally　left
the　chair　and　the　meeting　broke　up　in　disorder　which　threatened　to
degenerate　into　a　series　of　personal　encounters。

Again　McNish　took　command。　　Leaping　upon　a　chair；　with　a　loud　voice
which　caught　at　once　the　ears　of　his　following；　he　announced　that　a
meeting　was　to　be　held　immediately　in　the　union　rooms；　and　he
added：　　〃When　these　men　here　want　us　again；　they　know　where　to　find
us。〃　　He　was　answered　with　a　roar　of　approval；　and　with　an　ugly
smile　on　his　face　he　led　his　people　in　triumph　from　the　hall；
leaving　behind　the　mayor；　still　engaged　in　a　heated　argument　with
McGinnis　and　certain　employers　who　sympathised　with　the　Irishman's
opinions。　　Thus　the　strike　passed　into　another　and　more　dangerous
phase。



CHAPTER　XIV

GATHERING　CLOUDS


On　the　Rectory　lawn　a　hard…fought　game　had　just　finished；　bringing
to　a　conclusion　a　lengthened　series　of　contests　which　had　extended
over　a　whole　week；　in　which　series　Patricia；　with　her　devoted
cavalier；　Victor　Forsythe；　had　been　forced　to　accept　defeat　at　the
hands　of　her　sister　and　her　partner；　Hugh　Maynard。

〃Partner；　you　were　wonderful　in　that　last　set！〃　said　Patricia；　as
they　moved　off　together　to　offer　their　congratulations　to　their
conquerors。

〃Patsy；〃　said　her　partner；　in　a　low　voice；　〃as　ever；　you　are　superb
in　defeat　as　in　victory。　　Superb；　unapproachable；　wonderful。〃

〃Anything　else；　Vic？〃　inquired　Patsy；　grinning　at　the　youth。

〃Oh；　a　whole　lot　more；　Pat；　if　you　only　give　me　a　chance　to　tell
you。〃

〃No　time　just　now；〃　cried　Patricia　as　she　reached　the　others。
〃Well；　you　two　deserved　to　win。　　You　played　ripping　tennis；〃　she
continued；　offering　Hugh　her　hand。

〃So　did　you；　Pat。　　You　were　at　the　very　top　of　your　form。〃

〃Well；　some　other　day；〃　said　Vic。　　〃I　think　we　are　improving　a　bit；
partner。　　A　little　more　close　harmony　will　do　the　trick。〃

〃Come　away；　children；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton；　calling　to　them　from
the　shade　at　the　side　of　the　courts。　　〃You　must　be　very　tired　and
done　out。　　Why；　how　hot　you　look；　Patricia。〃

〃Stunning；　I　should　say！〃　murmured　Vic；　looking　at　her　with　adoring
eyes。

And　a　truly　wonderful　picture　the　girl　made；　in　her　dainty　muslin
frock；　her　bold　red　hair　tossed　in　a　splendid　aureole　about　her
face。　　Care…free；　heart…free；　as　she　flashed　from　her　hearty　blue
eyes　her　saucy　and　bewitching　glances　at　her　partner's　face；　her
mother　sighed；　thinking　that　her　baby　girl　was　swiftly　slipping
away　from　her　and　forever　into　that　wider　world　of　womanhood　where
others　would　claim　her。

In　lovely　contrast　stood　her　sister；　dressed　in　flannel　skirt　and
sweater　of　old　gold　silk；　fair；　tall；　beautiful；　a　delicate　grace
in　every　line　of　her　body　and　a　proud；　yet　gentle　strength　in　every
feature　of　her　face。　　There　dwelt　in　her　deep　blue　eyes　a　look　of
hidden；　mysterious　power　which　had　wrought　in　her　mother　a　certain
fear　of　her　eldest　daughter。　　The　mother　never　quite　knew　what　to
expect　from　Adrien。　　Yet；　for　all；　she　carried　an　assured　confidence
that　whatever　she　might　do；　her　daughter　never　would　shame　the　high
traditions　of　her　race。

The　long　shadows　from　the　tall　elms　lay　across　the　velvet　sward　of
the　Rectory　lawn。　　The　heat　of　the　early　June　day　had　given　place
to　the　cool　air　of　the　evening。　　The　exquisitely　delicate　colouring
from　the　setting　sun　flooded　the　sky　overhead　and　deepened　into
blues　and　purples　behind　the　elms　and　the　church　spire。　　A　deep
peace　had　fallen　upon　the　world　except　that　from　the　topmost　bough
of　the　tallest　elm　tree　a　robin　sang；　pouring　his　very　heart　out　in
a　song　of　joyous　optimism。

The　little　group；　disposed　upon　the　lawn　according　to　their　various
desires；　stood　and　sat　looking　up　at　the　brave　little　songster。

〃How　happy　he　is；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton；　a　wistful　cadence　of
sadness　in　her　voice。

〃I　wonder　if　he　is；　Mamma。　　Perhaps　he　is　only　pretending；〃　said
Adrien。

〃Cheerio；　old　chap！〃　cried　Vic；　waving　his　hand　at　the　gallant
little　songster。　　〃You　are　a　regular　grouch　killer。〃

〃He　has　no　troubles；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton；　with　a　sigh。

〃I　wonder；　Mamma。　　Or　is　he　just　bluffing　us　all？〃

〃He　has　no　strike；　at　any　rate；　to　worry　him；〃　said　Patricia；　〃and；
by　the　way；　what　is　the　news　to…day？　　Does　anybody　know？　　Is　there
any　change？〃

〃Oh；〃　cried　Vic；　〃there　has　been　a　most　exciting　morning　at　the
E。　D。　C。the　Employers'　Defence　Committee；〃　he　explained；　in　answer
to　Mrs。　Templeton's　mystified　look。

〃Do　go　on！〃　cried　Patricia　impatiently。　　〃Was　there　a　fight？　　They
are　always　having　one。〃

〃Of　course　there　was　the　usual　morning　scrap；　but　with　a　variation
to…day　of　a　deputation　from　the　brethren　of　the　Ministerial
Association。　　But；　of　course；　Mrs。　Templeton；　the　Doctor　must　have
told　you　already。〃

〃I　hardly　ever　see　him　these　days。　　He　is　dreadfully　occupied。
There　is　so　much　trouble；　sickness　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　Oh；　it
is　all　terribly　sad。　　The　Doctor　is　almost　worn　out。〃

〃He　made　a　wonderful　speech　to　the　magnates；　my　governor　says。〃

〃Oh；　go　on；　Vic！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃Why　do　you　stop？　　You　are　so
deliberate。〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　that　speech；〃　replied　Victor　more　quietly　than
was　his　wont。　　〃It　came　at　a　most　dramatic　moment。　　The　governor
was　quite　worked　up　over　it　and　gave　me　a　full　account。　　They　had
just　got　all　their　reports　in'all　safe　along　the　Potomac'no
break　in　the　front　lineBuilding　Industries　slightly　shaky　due　to
working　men's　groups　taking　on　small　contracts；　which　excited　great
wrath　and　which